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The No. 6 and 17 greens of the

country club course return to the Golfers start the day
original 1927 design by Seth Raynor
with missile warning
Waialae By Billy Hull
bhull@staradvertiser.com
when they came over the
loudspeaker and said every-
one take shelter, this isn’t a

gets a
blast
By the 11:05 a.m. start drill.”
time for the third round of Spieth, who is as prepared
the Sony Open in Hawaii on as any golfer every time he
Saturday, everything was steps on a course, had no
back to normal. clue what to do when

to the past
The sun was shining, fans alerted of a potential missile
Tony Finau parred the No. 17 were filing in through the attack.
hole during the first round of the front gate and the parking “I figured when missiles
Sony Open but aced it in the lot outside the Waialae were launched, it takes like
third round on Saturday. Country Club clubhouse hours (to reach Hawaii), and
By Paul Arnett looked like a luxury car lot. I found out afterward I guess
parnett@staradvertiser.com It was impossible to tell it could reach in like 20 min-

T
here has been a lot of talk
about the changes at the No. 6
and 17 greens this week, and
not all of it good. Just don’t
count Tony Finau on the negative
side of the equation, not after he aced
the 17th during Saturday’s third
round of the Sony Open in Hawaii.
Finau said if he hadn’t put a lot of
height on the ball that “no way was it
going to stop on that green. I think
most of the complaints on that green
is the ball doesn’t stop.”
Part of the reason for the recent
changes is that Waialae Country
Club is undergoing a facelift of sorts,
only this one is meant to make ev-
erything new old again. NBC and
Golf Channel analyst Mark Rolfing
discussed the matter earlier in the
week and said the recent alterations
are to return the course to the way it
was when it was unveiled in 1927 by
designer Seth Raynor.
Raynor disciple Tom Doak was
tasked to make the green on No. 6
more like the original punchbowl
shape of nearly 90 years ago. The par-
4, 460-yard hole has the prevailing
trades moving left to right across the
fairway. It’s easy to go out of bounds
on the right with a poor drive. It’s best
to be left-center to remain away from a
fairway bunker and trees. There is
also a bunker guarding the front right,
making this a tough hole.
On the first day, it was ranked the
second-hardest, surrendering 18 bird-
The No. 17 green at Waialae
Country Club has undergone a
facelift of sorts to return it to its 1927 design.
that just three hours earlier utes, so if I knew that I
ies among 144 golfers. There were should be fine. Until then, he recom-
players were legitimately wouldn’t have been outside
also 35 bogeys and five double bo- mends moving the skyboxes to the
concerned for their lives af- (the hotel room) taking
geys. On Friday it was equally diffi- right side of the green facing the
ter a cell phone notification calls.”
cult, coming in as the second-hardest ocean.
received by many people at Russell Knox, whose eagle
for the second straight day and the As for the players, world No. 2 Jor-
8:07 a.m. read: on the closing
toughest overall through 36 holes dan Spieth put it this way.
“BALLISTIC MIS- hole at 18
with only 25 birdies in 287 rounds of “I’ve played it well, so far,” Spieth
SILE THREAT IN- moved him into
golf. It was tied for the fifth-hardest said of 17. “I’m 1 under the first two
BOUND TO a tie for sixth
hole on Saturday, surrendering 15 days. I thought the old one was a re-
HAWAII. SEEK IM- place at 12 un-
birdies, including one from veteran ally, really great par-3. I think this
MEDIATE SHEL-
There was der after shoot-
golfer Zach Johnson. one requires a bit of luck. That’s
The 2009 Sony Open champion never really fun. It’s a better hole
TER. THIS IS nothing I could ing a 65, got the
NOT A DRILL.” message on his
has been vocal about the changes into the wind (Friday), but that’s not
Golfers took
do. It was phone while his
and his review is not a good one. the dominant wind.
off for the moun- either going wife was out for
“I’m not very fond of the changes,” “With the new green, you can still
tain or headed to an early-morn-
Johnson said. “But there’s not a play it to a spot where you have an
a nearby golf
to happen or ing walk.
player in the field who would say advantage over the field if you’re
otherwise. If they did, they’re lying; smart off the tee. So, I’ve got no
course. and at it wasn’t.” “My first reac-
least one seri- tion was it made
100 percent they’re lying. Not the problem looking at it that way.”
ously contem- Justin Thomas my heart start
rookies, but if they’ve seen it … ” Second-round leader Brian Har-
plated jumping Professional golfer beating a little
The par-3 17th came under close man offered this take.
into the ocean faster,” Knox
scrutiny, as well. Rolfing said the re- “I think they had the right idea in ———
and swimming said. “I went out
design there was probably in the most places,” Harman said. “It’s just
away from shore. to the balcony
fourth of an eight-year process. The — it’s so new. I need a couple more
Others, like of the hotel. I
Maui resident scratched a picture on years to see how it kind of settles in
defending cham- don’t know
the back of a piece of paper that re- before I can make a … I don’t think
pion Justin what I was ex-
flected most of the golfers will be aim- anyone can walk up on the green the
Thomas, just pecting to see,
ing at the sponsors’ skyboxes first year it has changed and say, ‘Oh,
took it in stride. like a missile fly-
guarding the left side of the green and this is markedly better or markedly
“Just sat on ing into Waikiki.
taking a free drop if necessary. Going worse.’ It takes time for the grass to
my couch, lis- I don’t know. It
right is just not an option there. settle and for the hills to settle and
tened to music, was a horrible
The par-3 played 178 yards on Sat- see how it’s going to play.”
watched TV and message to get,
urday — it was ranked fourth. On
kind of opened ASSOCIATED PRESS obviously.”
Thursday, it was the fourth hardest
up the sliding It didn’t seem
with 17 birdies and eighth hardest
door,” Thomas to affect the
on Friday with 29 birdies and 33 bo-
said after shoot- players at the
geys. Rolfing said in four years when
ing a 4-under 66 to move top of the leaderboard. Once
the green redesign is completed, it
into a tie for ninth place. second-round leader Brian
“There was nothing I could Harman tapped in for par to
do. It was either going to finish the day, all 10 players
happen or it wasn’t.” on the front page had shot
Thomas never got the 68 or better.
alert on his phone and Only 17 of the 76 golfers
found out via text message who teed it up failed to
from a buddy, Jordan Spieth, shoot at least par, making it
the highest-ranked golfer in a pleasant day on the
the field at No. 2 in the world course.
behind Dustin Johnson. Spi- When it did get tough, the
eth was busy trying to find a events of this morning
signal for his phone to call served to put everything in
his family after receiving the perspective.
alert. “The theme of the day
“I kind of thought maybe was, no matter what was go-
if we had a car, it would be ing on, (caddie) Mike (Grel-
wise to get in and drive as ler) would say or I would say
far away from town as possi- back to him, ‘At least we’re
ble,” Spieth said after card- alive,’ ” Spieth said. “Which
ing a 4-under 66. “It was isn’t really funny, but it was
pretty scary at the hotel kind of nuts.”
PHOTOS BY JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM

SONY OPEN NOTEBOOK

TODAY’S TEE TIMES

FIRST TEE 10:50 p.m.

Sam Saunders
10 a.m.
Jason Kokrak Right back to what I
9:20 a.m. Webb Simpson Keegan Bradley said at the beginning
Lanto Griffin Brian Stuard Brian Gay
Kevin Kisner 10:10 a.m.
of last week, which
11 p.m.
Austin Cook was to stay patient,
Ollie Schniederjans Conrad Shindler
9:30 a.m. Cameron Smith Ryan Palmer it’s a process.”
Jason Dufner Justin Thomas Jonathan Randolph
Stewart Cink 10:20 p.m. Jordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth 11:10 p.m.
Sam Ryder No. 2 golfer, on trying to find
Kyle Stanley
9:40 a.m. Matt Every the same putting setup he had
Chris Kirk
Matt Jones Seamus Power in 2015
Russell Knox
Nicholas Lindheim 10:30 p.m. ———
Xinjun Zhang 11:20 p.m.
J.J. Spaun
9:50 a.m. Tom Hoge Hudson Swafford A gallery watched
Patton Kizzire Roberto Diaz Jordan Spieth hit his
Corey Conners
Keith Mitchell Brian Harman ball out of a bunker on
10:40 p.m.
Jonathan Byrd No. 11 during the third
John Oda round of the Sony Open
10 a.m. Kevin Tway
Daisuke Kataoka 10TH TEE Andrew Putnam
on Saturday.
Gary Woodland 9:20 a.m. 10:50 p.m. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jerry Kelly Brandon Harkin Si Woo Kim
10:10 a.m. Adam Schenk Shugo Imahira
Chez Reavie Charles Howell III Stephan Jaeger SCOREBOARD — SATURDAY’S THIRD ROUND
Emiliano Grillo 9:30 a.m. At Waialae Country Club • Purse: $6.2 million
Ryan Blaum 11 p.m. Yardage: 7,044; Par 70 (35-35) • a-denotes amateur
Daniel Berger
Blayne Barber
10:20 p.m. Dominic Bozzelli Tom Hoge.................. 65-65-64--194 -16 Zach Johnson ............ 63-67-71--201 -9 Austin Cook ............... 67-71-65--203 -7 Sam Ryder .................68-70-68--206 -4
Tony Finau Vaughn Taylor Patton Kizzire.............67-64-64--195 -15 Scott Brown ..............69-67-66--202 -8 Brandon Harkins ......67-68-69--204 -6 Matt Every .................. 65-71-71--207 -3
Ryan Armour Steve Allan Brian Harman ........... 64-63-68--195 -15 Chez Reavie ............. 68-69-65--202 -8 Adam Schenk............70-65-69--204 -6 Seamus Power .........68-68-71--207 -3
Zach Johnson 9:40 a.m. Kyle Stanley ...............64-67-65--196 -14 Emiliano Grillo ........... 68-67-67--202 -8 Charles Howell III.....67-68-69--204 -6 J.J. Spaun .................... 67-70-70--207 -3
Scott Brown 11:10 p.m. Chris Kirk .....................63-67-67--197 -13 Ryan Blaum............... 66-68-68--202 -8 Daniel Berger ............67-68-69--204 -6 Hudson Swafford.....68-66-73--207 -3
Wesley Bryan Russell Knox ............. 69-64-65--198 -12 Daisuke Kataoka ..... 65-68-69--202 -8 Dominic Bozzelli ....... 70-67-67--204 -6 Roberto Díaz...............70-67-70--207 -3
Harris English William McGirt O. Schniederjans .....66-65-67--198 -12 Gary Woodland ........ 67-67-68--202 -8 Tony Finau .................. 70-67-67--204 -6 John Oda ....................68-70-69--207 -3
10:30 p.m. Cameron Smith ........66-67-66--199 -11 Jerry Kelly....................66-67-69--202 -8 Wesley Bryan ............68-66-70--204 -6 Kevin Tway..................71-66-71--208 -2
Xander Schauffele D.A. Points Justin Thomas............ 67-67-66--200 -10 Corey Conners .........70-66-67--203 -7 Harris English ............69-65-70--204 -6 Andrew Putnam ........71-66-71--208 -2
Ben Martin Sam Saunders .......... 67-67-66--200 -10 Keith Mitchell .............70-66-67--203 -7 Xander Schauffele ...68-64-72--204 -6 Si Woo Kim.................67-71-70--208 -2
James Hahn 9:50 a.m. 11:20 p.m. Webb Simpson......... 67-70-63--200 -10 Jonathan Byrd ...........68-68-67--203 -7 John Peterson ...........66-64-74--204 -6 Shugo Imahira ............67-71-70--208 -2
Nate Lashley John Peterson Colt Knost Brian Stuard .............. 67-66-67--200 -10 Matt Jones ..................67-68-68--203 -7 Tyrone Van Aswegen68-68-69--205 -5 Stephan Jaeger......... 68-70-70--208 -2
Talor Gooch ...............64-66-70--200 -10 Nicholas Lindheim.... 66-70-67--203 -7 Marc Leishman .........68-66-71--205 -5 Blayne Barber ...........68-69-72--209 -1
10:40 p.m. Tyrone Van Aswegen Joel Dahmen Scott Piercy ...............69-67-65--201 -9 Xinjun Zhang .............72-65-66--203 -7 Jason Kokrak ............. 67-70-68--205 -5 Vaughn Taylor ............ 64-73-72--209 -1
Rory Sabbatini ..........71-65-65--201 -9 Jason Dufner............. 69-65-69--203 -7 Keegan Bradley ........70-68-67--205 -5 Steve Allan ................. 68-70-72--210 E
Talor Gooch Marc Leishman Ben Martin................. 69-66-66--201 -9 Stewart Cink..............70-64-69--203 -7 Brian Gay ...................70-68-67--205 -5 William McGirt .......... 66-72-72--210 E
James Hahn ...............67-69-65--201 -9 Jordan Spieth ........... 69-68-66--203 -7 Conrad Shindler ....... 66-72-67--205 -5 D.A. Points ................. 68-70-72--210 E
Scott Piercy Nate Lashley ..............68-67-66--201 -9 Lanto Griffin ............... 67-70-66--203 -7 Ryan Palmer ..............71-64-71--206 -4 Colt Knost .................. 68-70-73--211 +1
Rory Sabbatini Ryan Armour...............67-67-67--201 -9 Kevin Kisner ...............68-64-71--203 -7 Jonathan Randolph . 69-68-69--206 -4 Joel Dahmen ...............68-70-74--212 +2